Bowed corner protectors for picture frames

ABSTRACT

A corner protector has a pair of opposite frame embracing faces which are resilient and bowed so that, in use, the corner region of a frame to be protected must force its way into position on between the opposite faces of the protector and will thereafter be frictionally gripped between them until the protector is subsequently released by pulling it off against the frictional resistance. Frame-gripping ribs may be incorporated on the major faces of the protector and in addition the protector may be tapered outwardly from its apex to its open mouth to provide a lead for insertion of the frame. To provide a still greater lead, the open edges of the protector may each be given a slight flange extension, but at opposite ends of the two edges.

This application is a national phase of International Application No.PCT/GB03/00881 filed Mar. 3, 2003 and published in the English language.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to corner protectors.

In this patent specification, a corner protector is a fitment so sizedand shaped as to embrace a corner region of a picture frame, poster cardsheet, mounted art print, shrink-wrapped art print, mirror, sheetmaterial or the like, between opposite surfaces in a releasable mannerso as to afford temporary protection to the corner edges whilst thepicture frame etc is in storage or in transit and in retail display.

THE STATE OF THE ART AS KNOWN TO THE APPLICANT

Corner protectors are in widespread use and are conventionally made ofstiff laminated and/or corrugated card, folded up into a generallytriangular shape, and defining in end elevation a rectangular openinginto which the corner region of the picture frame is inserted.

Usually the triangular face of such a conventional card-folded protectoris then stapled or taped to the back of the wooden frame of the pictureso as to stop it coming adrift before the user is subsequently ready toremove it.

These known forms of corner protector work well up to a point but theyhave drawbacks. Chief amongst these drawbacks is the need of course toremove the staples from the back of the frame in order to get the cornerprotector off the picture frame edge when the picture is to be hung anddisplayed. Usually the staple gun will have forced the metal staple farenough into the wooden picture frame for it to be a nail-breaking taskto remove the staples.

It is therefore relatively common for picture handlers, when the pictureis to be hung and displayed, simply to rip the relatively fragile cardprotector off the corner region of the frame and leave the staples inplace. The reasoning is of course that the staples, being fixed to theback of the frame, won't be seen during any display of the picture sincethe back of the frame abuts the wall or other surface on which thepicture hangs.

This is an admirably practical view but nevertheless it cannot be deniedthat the presence of the staples, and inevitably at least some area ofcard still surrounding them on the picture frame back, is unsightly.

It has also been known to hamper the insertion and stapling of futurecorner protectors to the same picture frame, because these protectorsare of course one-shot-use items whose cost of manufacture is trivialcompared with the value of the job they are designed to do and theframes whose corner edges they are designed to protect. The same picturewill therefore have up to four corner protectors stapled to it at anyone time when it is not being displayed and, after two or three storagesand/or transits in between successive displays, its back frame can beginto look extremely unsightly with remaindered staples sunk into it.

There is also a foreseeable risk of the next set of staples not takingproper hold, or even springing back out of the frame, should they happento hit one of the old previous remaining staples as they are driven in.This could conceivably extend as far as damaging or distorting the frameitself.

There is a need therefore for some new form of corner protector which atleast reduces the drawbacks of these conventional card-based ones withtheir stapled attachments.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In its broadest aspect the invention is embodied in a corner protector,whose opposite frame-embracing faces are resilient and bowed so that, inuse, the corner region of the picture frame must force its way intoposition between the opposite faces of the protector and will thereafterbe frictionally gripped between them until the protector is subsequentlyreleased by pulling it off against the frictional resistance.

Such a protector needs no stapling into place (although there is notheoretical reason why it should not also receive that treatment) andso, if desired, can be re-used rather than being a one-shot-use item.This lack of damage to the protector itself means that it can beproduced in more expensive materials than the traditional laminated orcorrugated staple-fixed protectors reviewed above. It could for instancebe extruded or moulded from plastics material whilst still beingeconomically feasible and it could, in such instances, form analtogether tougher and more effective protector than the all too easilyfrayed, split, and otherwise damaged card ones.

Making the protector out of a plastics material has other advantages. Itmakes it possible for the protector to be translucent and indeed to bewholly or partially transparent without any extra manufacturing cost andwith no adverse effect at all on its inherent strength and protectivecapabilities. It can also be self-coloured with attractive results.

It is particularly advantageous if one at least of the frame-grippingopposite surfaces of the protector is wholly or partially transparent,because then the protector can be used in combination with a simple cardor paper sleeve, for simply carrying a logo or identifying oradvertising material on one or more of its faces and fitting, in use,inside the protector so that the transparent portion of the protectorenables the identifying and/or advertising message on the sleeve to beviewed. Alternatively, it is envisaged that such information may beembossed into the protector wall itself, in which case it is notnecessary for the protector to be transparent.

Because the protector relies essentially on its inherent ability to gripthe corner region of the frame between its opposite surfaces, anythingwhich will increase the gripping capability without making it undulyonerous to squeeze the frame into the protector initially, will be anadvantageous and inventive add-on to the broad inventive concept.

Preferably therefore one at least of the frame-gripping oppositesurfaces of the protector is ribbed, dimpled, inherently corrugatedand/or just roughened so as to enhance its frictional grip in use.Whilst such surface treatments are known in themselves, none of them ispossible with the conventional card material hitherto used forprotectors. No such treatment would therefore be contemplated by theskilled but nevertheless conventional thinker in this field. To addany—or any combination—of them to a protector embodying the broadconcept of the present invention is therefore inventive if—as isbelieved to be the case—such an additive combination is a new one.

The invention includes within its scope the combination of a protectorof the kind just defined (i.e. with one at least of its frame-grippingsurfaces treated to enhance its gripping effectiveness in use) with aframe whose own surface, at its corner region or regions, is grooved,indented, or otherwise so treated that as the protector is pushed ontothe frame corner region in use, the ribs, dimples, or the like of theprotector surface will slide and/or snap into the grooves, indentationsetc of the frame surface. It also extends to such a frame itself

Clearly no frame forming part of the combination just defined is likelyto have such a treatment on its outer surface (i.e. that surface which,when the picture is hung or displayed, is visible) although it is nottheoretically impossible. What is more likely to happen is that the backsurface of the frame will be so treated. In another advantageousdevelopment of the invention, however, the grooves and/or dimples etcare formed in the edge surface of the frame instead of—or as wellas—being formed into the back surface.

This latter development has the advantage that it is not necessary, ifonly the edge surface of the frame is so treated, for the user to firstwork out which surface of the protector is internally treated and thenpush the protector onto the frame corner appropriately. Instead he cansimply push the protector into place quickly without having todifferentiate between its opposite frame-gripping surface internaltreatments.

Although the invention has been discussed so far in relation to its usegenerally on picture frames and mirrors, protectors embodying theinventive concept may also be used on poster card sheets and sheetmaterials generally. Poster card sheets are notoriously fragile and alltoo often creased and bent or frayed, especially at their cornerregions, by the time the purchaser gets them home from the gallery orshop purchase point. Conventional card stapled corner protectors simplycannot be used with poster card sheets. Protectors embodying theinvention by contrast can with appropriate care be pushed into andsubsequently removed from position with no real danger of damage to theposter sheet.

The invention includes within its scope a corner protector; or aframe-and-protector combination; or a frame, substantially as describedherein with reference to and as illustrated in any appropriatecombination of the text and drawings comprising this patentspecification.

The invention also envisages the provision of a taper of nominally,e.g., 0.5° each side from the protector apex to the open ends of theminor surfaces of the protector, along with the bowing of the majorwalls towards each other at their open ends described in connectionwith, for example, FIGS. 1 and 2. The taper provides a lead for theeasier insertion of a frame into the protector at the extremes of thebowed edges. A further refinement is the provision of a short extensionpiece at the end of each minor surface, which is angled away from theplane of the minor surface to lie approximately along the plane of theopen ends of the major surfaces. These extension pieces may convenientlyact as ejection points for the removal of the protector from its mould.Since the extensions lie outside the protector's areas of contact withthe frame, no sharp points or flash can interfere with the frame when itis inserted.

The apex of the protector may be given a slight outward bulge, so as tocreate a space between the inside of the protector apex and the apex ofthe frame-corner being inserted and the bulge may be part of a circle ofa given radius. This removes the considerable insertion forces of theentering frame from the apex line and redistributes them over a widerarea due to the curvature.

A further degree of lead for the ready insertion of a frame corner intothe protector may be provided by arranging for the two open edges of theprotector to have a slight flange-like protrusion, but at opposite endsof the protector. Thus each flange may act as a kind of stop againstwhich the frame corner may abut, the frame being subsequently readilyinserted into the protector itself. It is advantageous if each flangeoccupies approximately one-half the length of its associated open edge.

When such flanges are employed, it is expedient to fashion ejectionpoints as small recesses at the end-portions of the minor surfaces ofthe protector, the recesses having flat surfaces against which the mouldejection forces will be applied. In order to reduce the risk of damageto these flat surfaces, these end-portions are provided with a thickerwall adjacent the flat surfaces, e.g. in the form of a curvature of agiven radius.

In a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a framefitted with four protectors in any of the configurations describedabove, wherein each protector further comprises a hole associated withat least one if its major or minor surfaces and the protectors areconnected by a filament passed through the holes and forming a loop, theloop allowing the frame to be hung on a vertical surface while at thesame time holding the protectors firmly against the corners of theframe.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Practical embodiments of the invention will now be described withreference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows one corner protector, embodying the invention, inperspective;

FIG. 2 shows the same corner protector viewed en-on;

FIG. 3, again in perspective, shows another corner protector embodyingthe invention;

FIG. 4 shows yet another one, again in perspective;

FIG. 5 is a simplified view of a further corner protector embodying theinvention, drawn in perspective but with its front surface removed forclarity;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of one edge region of a wooden pictureframe modified to work in combination with either of the protectors ofFIGS. 4 and 5;

FIG. 7 shows a card or paper sleeve for use with any of the protectorsof FIGS. 1 through 5; and

FIGS. 8 to 11 show a preferred embodiment incorporating edge ribbing.

FIG. 12 a illustrates a further embodiment of the protector according tothe invention and FIG. 12 b a view along the direction ‘XIIB’, whileFIG. 12 c is a side view of the protector showing the application of anejection force to the protector at the end of the moulding process;

FIG. 13 a is a perspective view of a further variant of the protectoraccording to the invention with FIGS. 13 b and 13 c being views alongthe directions ‘XIIB’ and XIIIC′, respectively;

FIG. 14 is a side view of a further embodiment of a protector accordingto the invention;

FIG. 15 shows the stacking of plate glass equipped with the protectorsof FIG. 14;

FIGS. 16 a, 16 b and 16 c are views of a protector in accordance with anembodiment of the invention in which external radii are provided;

FIGS. 17 and 18 show protectors in accordance with a further embodimentof the invention, in which external radii are provided;

FIGS. 19 a and 19 b illustrate the use of internal radii in anembodiment of the protector according to the invention;

FIG. 20 a is a perspective view of an embodiment of the protector inaccordance with the invention comprising a slot at an apex region of theprotector, and FIG. 20 b is a view of the same protector in thedirection XXb;

FIG. 21 is a rear view of a mirror or similar item equipped withprotectors in accordance with the invention and a connecting filamentfor hanging purposes;

FIG. 22 is a view into the open mouth of a protector according to theinvention and featuring also a connecting piece for use as a picturehanging aid, and

FIGS. 23 a and 23 b are side and plan views, respectively, of part of anapparatus employed to manufacture the protector in accordance with theinvention;

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

The corner protector of FIG. 1 is intended to protect one of the fourcorner regions of a wooden picture frame when the frame is in storage,transit or retail display. It is made from resilient plastics materialsuch as polypropylene and it is both translucent and transparentthroughout allowing bar code scanning of the price ticket insertedbetween the corner and the frame. Its two triangular walls 11, 12together with its rectangular bases 13 and 14 are formed integrally asone continuous moulding and the walls 11, 12 and the bases 13, 14 of asimilar thickness as one another and each the same uniform thicknessthroughout their respective extents.

As FIG. 1 attempts to show, wall 12 is noticeably bowed towards wall 11.FIG. 2 shows this more clearly. The gap A between the two triangularwalls 11 and 12 is appreciably (although not excessively) greater thanthe gap B. Gap A is the distance between walls 11 and 12 where they joinintegrally bases 13 and 14. Gap B is the distance between the same twowalls at the mid-region of the opening defined between them.

In use, the corner region of (for example) a wooden picture frame suchas that shown in FIG. 6 is pushed into position by forcing its waybetween the resilient opposite faces 11, 12 of the corner protectoruntil its own corner edge abuts the right-angled join between theprotector bases 13 and 14 inside the protector body. The cornerprotector is of course so shaped and sized that it would be a snugfrictional fit around the wooden frame edge if the gap A defined betweenits walls 11 and 12 were constant. In reality because of the bowing asillustrated by gap B the protector grips the frame—thanks to theinherent resilience of its plastics walls—more tightly than would be thecase if gap A were indeed the same as gap B across the width of theprotector.

Frictionally gripping the corner region of the frame in this way, theresilient plastics protector does its job, because its walls are thickenough to withstand knocks and scuffing externally whilst beinginherently resilient enough to be re-used several times. When the cornerprotector is released from the frame it is protecting by pulling it offagainst the frictional resistance exerted by its walls 11 and 12 on theframe surfaces, the inherent resilience of the material from which it ismade is sufficient for it to resume its FIG. 2 state. In normallyintended re-usage of these relatively cheaply produced articles, thatresilience will not be unduly affected by cumulative stress fatigue.

The corner protector of FIG. 3 works in the same way as that of FIG. 1but there are differences between the two. In the FIG. 3 embodiment, oneof the frame-gripping walls 16 of the protector is not geometricallyidentical to the opposite wall 17. The latter wall 17 is, like the walls11 and 12 of FIG. 1, essentially triangular in shape. Wall 16 bycontrast is cut away to illustrate that the invention is not restrictedto simple geometrically-overlaid wall shapes such as the walls 11 and 12of FIG. 1.

Another difference is that a portion 18 of wall 16 of the FIG. 3protector is transparent. Indeed in this particular case it is a cut-outformed in the material of wall 16. It could be filled in withtransparent material or it could contain oppositely-coloured material;or both.

In FIG. 4 one of the frame-gripping walls 17 of the protector shown is,like those of the previous embodiments, bowed towards its opposite wall;but ribs 19, 21 running parallel to the respective right-angle-joinedbases 13 and 14 are formed on-the inside (i.e. on the frame-gripping)surface of wall 17.

These ribs 19, 21 project internally from wall 17 so that, when theprotector is pushed into place over a picture frame, they willsimultaneously enhance its gripping action and resist any inadvertentdislodging of it once it has been pushed fully home. They could be sopositioned—and the protector overall so proportioned—that, when they arefully home, they snap into place just inside the inner edges of theframe (i.e. the edges adjacent the periphery of the picture itself whenviewed in its frame).

Alternatively, or additionally, ribs such as the ribs 19, 21 couldengage in grooves 22, 23 formed in the frame surface as shown in FIG. 6.The frame 24 is wooden as previously indicated. The ribs 19 and 21 ofthe FIG. 4 corner protector snap into the grooves 22 and 23 of thewooden frame back surface when the protector is fully home.

As FIG. 6 also shows, edge grooves 25 can be formed in the picture frameas well as (or instead of) the grooves 22 and 23. In such an instancethe protector could be correspondingly ribbed as shown at 26 and 27 inFIG. 5 (in which one of the frame-embracing walls of the protector hasbeen removed for clarity and only a portion of the remainder of theprotector body is shown).

In FIG. 7 a simple fold-up card or paper sleeve is illustrated which, inuse, fits inside any of the translucent protectors shown in FIGS. 1through 5. The sleeve can have identifying and/or advertising materialdisplayed on its major face D and/or on either of its other faces E andF. It would of course fit into (for example) the protector of FIG. 4 sothat its face D underlay the non-bowed wall which faces the ribbed wall17 of that FIG. 4 embodiment. Any attempt to fit it the other way roundwould result in its being distorted as soon as (in this particularembodiment) ribs 19 and 21 began to bite against the picture framesurface as the protector was pushed fully home.

Although all the protectors illustrated so far have one, only, bowedwall 12 preferably both walls should be bowed towards and away from theother. There are practical commercial reasons why this is desirable aswell as the increased frictional gripping capacity obtained thereby inuse.

In FIG. 8, the protector surfaces bow concavely towards each other andare reinforced with external ribs or lips 28 c, 28 d, 28 e, 28 g. Theremaining outside edge surfaces of the protector—other than the apexedge 30—are also thus lipped or ribbed as indicated by 28 a, 28 b, 28 f,28 h. FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate this in more detail. FIG. 9 is a viewfrom the side of the protector (i.e. looking in the direction of arrow Yin FIG. 8). FIG. 10 is a view from above (arrow X in FIG. 8). Both viewsare part-views only but illustrate the ribbing which is continuous alongthe respective edges.

One of the important design features is the ability of the cornerprotectors to redistribute impact forces from the vulnerable cornerregions of the frame in use: this occurs via the “ribs” just mentioned,which in preferred embodiments surround the mouth periphery of theprotector and (preferably) optionally its edges. These extra-thick ribsor flanges absorb and dissipate the forces. As mentioned, they arethickened regions which extend along the edge lines externally and/orinternally of the protector.

The gate point of the protector is advantageously positioned at the apexof the protector, but since in practice a protrusion may be formedduring the moulding process at the gate point, the current inventionarranges for the external ribs to have a profile which is higher thanthe likely profile of the gate-point protrusion itself (see FIG. 11). Inthe diagram this is shown as the condition that distance “X” should begreater than distance “Y”.

The protrusion just mentioned may take the form of a small “blip” whichhas minimal visual product effects, and will be almost invisible, but isadded to the design for fast efficient cycle times in a productionenvironment. Such a blip could be located at the apex of the triangularmould, as shown in FIG. 11, or on a face and/or edge (see, eg. blips 80on the major faces of the protector shown in FIG. 16 a).

A further variant of the protector according to the invention is shownin FIGS. 12 a and 12 b, in which small extension pieces 40 are providedat the ends of the minor surfaces 41 and 42 of the protector. Theextension pieces 40 are angled from the plane of the minor surfaces soas to lie approximately along the plane of the open ends 43 of the majorsurfaces 44, 45. The extensions act as strong ejection points againstwhich an ejection force “F” (see FIG. 12 c) is applied when it isdesired to remove the protector from its male counterpart at the end ofthe moulding process. In addition, the minor walls 41, 42 are taperedoutwards from the apex 49 to the ends 53. It is preferred if the degreeof tapering is of the order of 0.5° each side. The slightly wider openends of the protector due to the tapering provides a “lead” whichfacilitates the insertion of the frame into the protector.

It is preferable if a degree of bowing, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, beemployed along with the taper in order to ensure an adequate grippingeffect on a frame or sheet member, while at the same time preserving theadvantageous lead provided by the taper.

It is worth noting that the extension pieces 40 shown in FIGS. 12 a and12 b are arranged to have a maximum height (height “Z” in FIG. 12 a) inorder to allow the protector to sit as near level as possible whenresting on a surface.

It has already been described (see FIGS. 4, 5 and 6) how the majorsurfaces of the protector may be provided with internal ribs or the likefor mating with corresponding grooves in the frame to be protected,these members forming a temporary locking mechanism for the frame in theprotector. FIGS. 13 a, 13 b and 13 c show an alternative form of“locking” mechanism in which the major surfaces 44, 45 have partiallycut-out tabs 50 which, after the frame has been inserted into theprotector, are pushed inwards so as to lever towards the frame along thebending line 52, thereby forming a restraint against the removal of theframe 51. This form of locking mechanism is more permanent than theearlier described mechanism and is normally only deployed if it isunlikely that the protectors will be removed. However, if required, itis still possible to forceably remove the protector from the frame,albeit with a high risk that the tabs will be broken off in the process.If that does occur, it is still possible to reuse the protector, butwithout the possibility of re-locking it against the frame in the mannerjust described.

A form of protector in accordance with the invention which isparticularly applicable to the protection of thin laminates, e.g. floatglass, mirrors and prints, is shown in FIG. 14. In FIG. 14 the protectorin its preferred form is equipped with three special features inaddition to the bowed open-end feature shown in, for example, FIGS. 1and 2. These are: the flanges 54, 55 (one on each open edge of theprotector, but at opposite ends, as shown); recessed lips 56 having flatinside surfaces 57; and a radiused apex 58. The staggered flangesfunction as a lead for the print, etc, when it is desired to insert thesame into the protector.

Since there is one flange at each end of the protector, the print may beintroduced at either end, which facilitates insertion. The lips 56 havein addition to the flat surfaces 57 a thick, radiused portion 59, whichincreases the strength of the protector at these points and ensures thatthe ejection force when applied to the surfaces 57 will not pierce orotherwise damage the protector. Finally, the curved apex 58 functionsfirstly to provide a space between the apex of the frame corner wheninserted and the protector apex and, secondly and resulting from this,to distribute the insertion forces of the incoming frame over a widerarea than just the conventional linear apex itself.

In addition, due to the inherent strength of the moulding material used,the protector of FIG. 14 can be made with walls as little as 0.5 mmthick, which means that, if used with fragile inserts such as floatglass and with such glass sheets stacked one upon the other (see FIG.15), each with the illustrated protectors fitted, any force applied toone sheet of glass against the next is unlikely to damage the glass. Thesame applies if, for some reason, one of the protectors is missing,leaving a gap in the stack at that corner. Due to the thinness of theprotector wall, the gap left will not allow a bending of the glass atthat point sufficient to cause significant damage to it.

Several advantageous enhancements, which may be incorporated into any ofthe embodiments of the protector so far described, are now outlined.

FIGS. 16 a and 16 b show a basic protector having at each corner anexternal radius 70 of a suitable maximum value which ensures that nodamage can occur to surrounding items or to any shrink-wrap that isemployed around the corners of the protector or on the frame. (FIG. 16a, incidentally, also shows a pair of blips 80 on the internal majorfaces near the apex. As mentioned earlier, these blips aid themanufacturing process by allowing easier ejection of the protector). Asimilar radius 72 is applied also to the apex of the protector (see FIG.16 c).

FIGS. 17 and 18 illustrate the use of such a radius 70 on a protectorfeaturing external beading (“ribs”), as shown initially in FIG. 11. InFIG. 18 not only the ribs 72 are radiused by smoothing theirend-profiles, but the ejection areas 40 (cf. FIGS. 12 a and 12 b) arealso blended into an external radius 74.

Radii may not only be applied to external parts of the protector, theymay also be applied to internal areas. One example of this is shown inFIG. 11, in which an internal radius 76 has been introduced at the apexof the protector in order to eliminate the otherwise existing sharpedge, which would constitute a weak point when the protector was underload. Internal radii may be provided at other locations as well toensure that no damage is caused to the frame, etc, when the protector isapplied to the frame and also when under load during transportation. Anexample of this is shown in FIG. 19 a, in which internal radii 82 areapplied to the open mouth of the protector. A way of profiling theprotector wall is illustrated in FIG. 19 b.

A further enhancement, which may or may not be advantageous, dependingon the use to which the protector is put, is shown in FIGS. 20 a and 20b and consists of the provision of a slot 94 in the minor walls in orderto give some flexibility to the protector around its apex. The slot 94extends partway up each wall and is continuous from its starting point,say halfway along one wall, round past the apex to its finishing point,say halfway up the other wall. The length of the slot relative to thelength of the wall and the width of the slot determines the degree offlexibility which it confers. One reason such flexibility might be anadvantage is if the frame or sheet member to which the protector is tobe applied is slightly wider at its corner (frame apex) than furtheralong its walls. In such a situation it might conventionally benecessary to employ a generally slightly wider version of the protector,but there would then be the risk that, even with the bowing described inconnection with FIGS. 1 and 2, for example, there would not besufficient grip between the protector and the frame/sheet member. When aslot such as is shown in FIGS. 20 a and 20 b is employed, the grip willnot be prejudiced and the frame, etc, will still be insertable into theprotector, though with some resistance until the wide apex of the framehas entered the apex region of the protector, at which point theprotector apex gives slightly and the protector is securely seated onthe frame. There will then be two measures enhancing the protector'sgrip on the frame: the initial bowing of the open ends of the protectorand the additional use of the slot 94.

In FIG. 21 there is illustrated an arrangement in which a mirror 60 withwooden or other backing is equipped at each of its corners with any ofthe protectors hereinbefore described and in which the protectors aresupplied with a small hole 61 in a suitable location, e.g. at a point ontheir backward facing major surface (FIG. 21 is a rear view). If now astrong filament such as a thin twine or similar (fishing line isenvisaged as being particularly suitable in this application) is passedthrough the four holes and completed as a closed loop, the mirror may behung upon a wall or other vertical surface at a point 62, whereupon theaction of hanging the mirror will also cause a tightening of the fourprotectors against the corners of the mirror, thereby securing iteffectively against being dislodged and damaged.

In a variant of the illustrated arrangement, more than one hole isprovided in each protector, e.g. in the same major or indeed minorsurface thereof, and the twin passed through the protector from the rearthrough one hole and back out through the other.

An alternative form of securing point for the twine is shown in FIG. 22and is constituted by a protrusion either moulded as an integral part ofthe major surface 64 or secured by some other means thereto (e.g. byadhesion or welding). A hole 65 is formed in the protrusion and thetwine passed through that. In this arrangement there would normally beno need to provide multiple holes in the same protector.

It should be noted that many of the features heretofore described may beincorporated in a variety of combinations. For example, the flanges ofFIG. 14, which provide a lead for frame insertion, may be employed withor without a taper on the minor walls of the same protector. Where ataper is additionally provided, there will simply be a greater degree oflead and insertion will thereby be even further facilitated. It is alsopossible to employ the recessed ejection surfaces shown in FIG. 14 inthe standard form of the protector shown in, e.g., FIG. 1.

Because the clear corners of the protector protect the retail priceticketing and description, it is possible to produce high definitionprinted price ticketing, on cheap paper, using a cheap printing paper.This is preferable to the present situation, in which expensiveabrasion-resistant labels have to be printed.

Also, many retailers fear that their customers will remove such labelsand place them on more expensive frames. This system makes it verydifficult for this to happen.

Because of quality on-edge retail ticketing, frames can be displayed onedge like books on a bookshelf. However the “ribs” of the corners wouldcatch against each other, so the ribs are given a specific radius toprevent this.

In the design of the corner protector moulding tool, the mould walls arereverse tapered and the bead around the periphery of the protector mouthis reduced and tapered to reduce “catching” as corners of frames aredragged alongside one another. This also aid ejection at the end of themoulding process and increases flow, reducing cycle times and cost ofmanufacture.

As regards the moulding process, the present invention provides forminimisation of material waste. The moulds themselves are produced bystandard 3-plate tooling and this creates a waste part (a so-called“runner”) every production cycle, which may be, e.g., every four units.The runner is shown as item 90 in FIGS. 23 a and 23 b and the gatepoints are also shown as items 92, with the units themselves as items94. During the manufacturing process of the protector according to thepresent invention the runner is reground and fed back into the systemvia a closed-loop process.

In addition all cores and cavities are insertable, which allows onestandard set of bolster plate work to carry all sizes of protector. Thetooling is also designed to give the maximum amount of variable cooling.This enables a “Hugging” effect across the open faces to be achieved andcontrolled.

1. A corner protector having opposite front and rear faces configured soas to embrace between them, in use, a corner edge region comprising theopposed front and rear external surfaces of a picture frame, and sideedge portions disposed at an angle and extending between the front andrear faces for primarily covering the corner edge region of the frame,at least one of said opposite faces being triangular in plan view andresilient and smoothly bowed towards the other face so, in use, thecorner region of the picture frame must force its way into positionbetween said opposite faces of the protector and thereafter befrictionally gripped between them until the protector is subsequentlyreleased by pulling it off against the frictional resistance.
 2. Acorner protector according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the frontand rear faces of the protector is at least partially transparent.
 3. Acorner protector according to claim 2 used in combination with a card orpaper sleeve fitted, in use, inside the protector so that a transparentportion of at least one of the front and rear faces of the protectorenables the sleeve to be viewed through the transparent portion.
 4. Acorner protector in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one ofsaid front and rear faces of the protector is selected to be one of thegroup comprising: ribbed, dimpled, inherently corrugated and justroughened, whereby its frictional grip in use is enhanced.
 5. A cornerprotector according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the front andrear faces is concavely bowed.
 6. A corner protector according to claim1, wherein the corner protector further includes at least one outwardprojecting portion which may be used by an operator in removing orplacing the corner protector on a frame's corner.
 7. A corner protectorin combination with a card or paper sleeve for carrying at least one ofidentifying and advertising material, the corner protector havingopposite frame-embracing faces, at least one of said oppositeframe-embracing faces being resilient and bowed towards the other faceso, in use, the corner region of a picture frame must force its way intoposition between said opposite faces of the protector and thereafter befrictionally gripped between them until the protector is subsequentlyreleased by pulling it off against the frictional resistance, wherein atleast one of the opposite frame-embracing faces of the protector is atleast partially transparent, and wherein the card or paper sleeve isconfigured to fit inside the protector so that the transparent portionof the protector enables a display face of the sleeve to be viewed,whereby at least one of the identifying and advertising material can beprovided on the display face and viewed through the transparent portion.8. A corner protector in combination with a frame, the corner protectorhaving opposite frame-embracing faces, at least one of said oppositeframe-embracing faces being resilient and bowed towards the other faceso, in use, the corner region of a picture frame must force its way intoposition between said opposite faces of the protector and thereafter befrictionally gripped between them until the protector is subsequentlyreleased by pulling it off against the frictional resistance, wherein atleast one of the opposite frame-embracing faces of the protector has oneor more of a protrusion or a recess, or a combination of at least one ofeach, whereby its frictional grip in use is enhanced, and wherein asurface of the frame at a corner region has one or more of a protrusionor a recess, or a combination of at least one of each, so that, as theprotector is pushed onto the frame corner region in use, the one or moreof a protrusion or a recess, or a combination of at least one of each,of the protector surface will one of slide and snap into the one or moreprotrusions or recesses of the frame surface.
 9. A corner protectoraccording to claim 8, wherein the one or more of a protrusion or arecess, or a combination of at least one of each, are formed in an edgesurface of the frame.